A feature piece in this coming Sunday's New York Times Magazine on Republican candidate for president, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, portrays his followers as including a wild mix of "wackos" on both ends of the political spectrum. Paul, a libertarian, has been gaining media and public attention of late.

The article closes with the author, Christopher Caldwell, attending a Ron Paul Meetup in Pasadena. The co-host, Connie Ruffley of United Republicans of California, admits she once was a member of the radical right John Birch Society and when she asks for a show of hands "quite a few" attendees reveal that they were or are members, too. She refers to Sen. Dianne Feinstein as "Fine-Swine" and attacks Israel, pleasing some while others "walked out."

Caldwell notes that the head of the Pasadena Meetup Group, Bill Dumas, sent a desperate letter to Paul headquarters: "We're in a difficult position of working on a campaign that draws supporters from laterally opposing points of view, and we have the added bonus of attracting every wacko fringe group in the country....We absolutely must focus on Ron's message only and put aside all other agendas, which anyone can save for the next 'Star Trek' convention or whatever."

Asked about the John Birch Society Society by the author, Paul responds, "Is that BAD? I have a lot of friends in the John Birch Society. They're generally well-educated and they understand the Constitution. I don't know how many positions they would have that I don't agree with."

The writer concludes that the "antigovernment activists of the right and the antiwar activists of the left" may have "irreconciable" differences. But "their numbers -- and anger -- are of considerable magnitude. Ron Paul will not be the next president of the United States. But his candidacy gives us a good hint about the country the next president is going to have to knit back together."

Among many other things, we learn from the article that Paul had never heard of "The Daily Show" until he was a guest and referred to the magazine GQ as "GTU." It also notes that he was the only congress member to vote against the Financial Antiterrorism Act and a medal to honor Rosa Parks, among many others tallies, based on principle, not politics. He also is praised by liberal Rep. Barney Frnak as "one of the easiest" members to work with because "he bases his positions on the merits of issues."

Most of the people I see on FR also are for smaller Constitutional government and more individual freedom. But lately I see a lot socialists posting in this forum. Check out the thread on Minimum Wage here

The John Birch Society had many things right but often had very strong antisemitic undertones and a bit of a racist vibe too. General Walker and Protocols of Zion type stuff.

They undermined a lot of the good they did in the fight against the reds with that sort of BS. And there was a time before conservatives tended to be as staunch supporters of Israel as they generally are today....

The John Birch Society had many things right but often had very strong antisemitic undertones and a bit of a racist vibe too. General Walker and Protocols of Zion type stuff.

I think Glenn on the other thread had it right when he said that they were never antisemitic as an organization but had to keep expelling some antisemites that tried to set up shop there.

Of course, the controversy tarred the entire organization with the brush of antisemitism. Certainly, on the other thread we had info on some of the ex-JBSers and the organizations they formed after they were expelled by the JBS people.

The same thing has happened at FR. JimRob had to expel antisemites. Then they end up at one of those small TOS sites where they can be as antisemitic as they want.

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